I had a reaction earlier this month that involved EpiPen, ambulance, and hospital. It was pretty scary, but everything went well and the medical staff applauded me for using my EpiPen so quickly. (I was struggling to stay conscious by that point; it happened so fast.) The biphasic reaction was caught almost instantly because the doctor was on the ball. It really couldn't have been better treated.

Now, every few nights I get nightmares basically re-running the reaction over in my head and I wake up terrified. Any thoughts on how to put these nightmares to rest?

I have an appointment with my GP next week and plan on mentioning it to her if they aren't gone by then. I've had major food anxiety after reactions before (not this time, oddly enough) but I think having nightmares is worse, to me at least, because I cannot control them.

Have you consideted that it might be post traumatic stress disorder? Given your experience, I wouldn't be surprised! Do mention your symptoms to your GP.

Quote:

PTSD is caused by a psychologically traumatic event involving actual or threatened death or serious injury to oneself or others. Such triggering events are called ‘stressors’; they may be experienced alone or while in a large group.
Violent personal assaults such as rape or mugging, car or plane accidents, military combat, industrial accidents and natural disasters are stressors which have caused people to suffer from PTSD. In some cases, seeing another person harmed or killed, or learning that a close friend or family member is in serious danger has caused the development of PTSD symptoms.

I've thought it could be some sort of PTSD. I figure there's a normal level of mental trauma with reactions that will go away with time, but whether it's that or something more I don't know. I'll definitely talk to my GP about it.

Edit: Reading through the description on the linked page describes what I'm experiencing exactly, including some other symptoms that could be related. Thank you for the link.

I don't know if the medical community has connected anaphylaxis with ptsd but it "violent personal assault...accidents and natural disasters are stressors which have caused people to suffer from PTSD. In some cases, seeing another person harmed or killed, or learning that a close friend or family member is in serious danger has caused the development of PTSD symptoms."

It certainly sounds like anaphylaxis and the symptoms are bang on. The good news is that there are treatments that can bring balance back into the lives of suffers. Often, the individual symptoms are treated because ptsd is often not consider unless the patient mentions the event.

Spacecanada, I'm sorry to hear of your reaction earlier this month. So scary for you, but you managed beautifully!! I'm so glad to hear that you were able to handle everything so well, and that you received such good care. It's definitely really really tough to go through these events. This is such good advice from Susan, and such an important component to healing after a traumatic event. Recognition of the emotions and anxiety that may follow a reaction, and dealing with the aftermath, if it occurs, is something we can all help each other with. Absolutely, such good advice from Susan to speak to your doctor. It's important for all of us to be aware that these conditions may follow a reaction. Be kind to yourself, speak to your doctor, and remind yourself that you knew exactly what to do, and you did it!

Oh spacecanada so sorry you went through that! Im glad you knew what to do and your treatment at the hospital went well. I do understand the fear after. For the possibility of it being ptsd I have been looking into a type of treatment that I understand has great success. No meds or any type of treatment that you are not in control of. It is called EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization Reprograming discovered by Dr. Francine Shapiro (Who wrote Getting Past your Past) You can google to read up about it the back and forth movement that the eyes make while being led through discussions are like that in rem sleep. Just a thought I think it sounds very interesting. I pray you find peace soon. One should not have to stress as we often do about food.

_________________Me-Allergic to Peanut, Tree Nut, Coconut, Shellfish, ASA and Asthma
My Husband and Children No Allergies

Hi Spacecanada,
I am also sorry to hear about your reaction but even more so about the following nightmares.
For me, your post is so important as I know my DD in particular has had terrifying reactions and had to learn to work through her anxiety and fears after them. Our family doc and docs we've been referred to see it as "acceptable & appropriate" anxiety. (Really, he's a great doc although this sounds harsh here).
We've had to work through strategies to help her manage when these feelings creep or pop up.

I'm definitely wishing you peace and sending healing thoughts!

While everyone is individual, please share your resolution (if it isn't too personal). I find everyone's advice is so helpful since I'm in the "mom" role supporting my kids through their experiences.

Thanks everyone. My GP appointment is on Tuesday and I'll let you know what she says. She is specialised in both mental health and allergies, so I'm sure she will have good advice and/or treatments. I have a friend who works in mental health and said she will give me references if needed. (She made the PTSD connection right away, saying anaphylaxis can be considered a near-death event.)

The past two nights have been better, no vivid nightmares, but I still wake up scared and unable to go back to sleep.

Saw my GP today. Other than telling me some stories about her son's teachers who were supposedly trained in EpiPens and clearly didn't know how to use them (sigh), she mentioned that nightmares and high anxiety are considered a normal part of recovery from a major reaction so long as they do not persist for more than a month or so. As my nightmares have been getting better the past few nights (i.e. not nearly as scary or frequent as they were even a week ago), she doesn't see the need for treatment outside of talking about them with my spouse and reducing overall stress in my life. If they persist or worsen, or if they become triggered by certain things (i.e hearing sirens), to come back right away. I'm optimistic they will slowly fade with time. Hopefully sooner than later.

For now, it's lots of bubble baths, reading, cuddling the cats, and other comforting things.

spacecanada, I'm also so glad to hear your nightmares are decreasing... I'm sure it helps to realise this is normal, in terms of healing after a traumatic event. As a parent, I have also been healing following my son's reaction in June (Epipen, ER, etc.). Your original post, and the advice following, has helped me too! This is why I am so grateful this group exists so that we can support each other. In this particular case, I am grateful you shared your story so that you could receive support from our allergic community and others can heal in the process too. Keep up the bubble baths and the cuddling! It's all part of the recovery... so glad you're starting to feel better

Thank you for all the kind words everyone! I feel like I lost a whole week due to those nightmares and lack of sleep. I really couldn't function as a person on the most basic level at that time. Thankfully, the nightmares have slowed to less than once per week, I'm able to get back to sleep right away, and I'm otherwise back to my normal self. Animal snuggles and bubble baths certainly helped too.

My husband and I have talked quite a bit about how everything was done right and we asked all the right questions before eating. Even with our very tight comfort zone, reactions still happen.

That is exactly right. I always equate it to driving in that I do all that I can to protect my daughter and myself but a reaction (or accident) may happen one day and when/if it does we will deal with it.

When I spent so much time and mental energy worrying about reactions my anxiety was having a negative impact on my life. Now that I have trusted that my/our precautions are very good I don't worry as much and it has made me a much nicer person to be around

_________________me: allergic to crustaceans plus environmental
teenager: allergic to hazelnuts, some other foods and environmental

The nightmares took several months to go away, for the most part, but now they're coming back, with severe anxiety and mental health woes. It's been a very bad month for triggers. Off to the GP again. The mental health hotline says I don't fit into their usual categories or programs. They recommend a psychiatric outpatient program - yikes. We'll see how that goes.

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